Q&A with Santa Barbara Ultra Runner Chris Douglas

New Balance and RootsRated have teamed up to profile runners making a difference in their communities. We asked each of our runners a series of questions to learn a little more about what running means to them, where they like to run and what are some of their running goals.

Chris Douglas is a runner who looks for the toughest terrain around and finds the quickest way up! His version of fun is in line with his spirit for adventure. Learn more about Chris in his Q&A.

Favorite aspect of running?
It might sound corny, but my favorite aspect of running is the feeling of freedom. Doesn’t matter where I am or what the weather may be, I can just put on some shoes and walk out the door to explore wherever I am. Some of my favorite runs have involved getting super lost in new cities or trails that I’ve never explored before.

Importance of running to me?
Running is my therapy. I always feel good after a run. I’ve used runs for meditation and winding down a long day or as a “punch dance” to blow off frustration from work and the like. Without running, I would probably be grumpy all the time.

Running solo or in a group?
There’s something magical about running in a group to me. Whether on a trail or a road, sharing the activity with friends keeps everyone honest. I’ve also met some incredible friends while on group runs.

Favorite running event?
Although not an official event, my favorite event is a local Bay Area “secret” called the Ninja Loop. Every Thursday morning at 5:30am, rain or shine, before dawn most of the year, a group of runners meet at a parking lot at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge to run an 11.5 mile loop in the trails of the Marin Headlands. I consider it the perfect training run. A usually epic sunrise over San Francisco at the end doesn’t hurt either.

Where do you want run in the future?
I was lucky to get a chance to travel to Mallorca off the coast of Spain and was able to run on some epic trails. While there I learned about a trail race that traverses the mountain range on the island called the Serra de Tranmuntana. It’s 112 kilometer race or something close to that. My plan is to run this race in 2016!

Proudest running moment?
This one is tough. Probably my proudest moment was completing my first marathon in 2011. This race was my “turn my life around” race. Everything from the training to the culmination on race day with my family and friends supporting me was a memory that I carry with me on every race subsequent.